Messiah at the Gates

A legend from the Talmud:

Rabbi Yoshua ben Levi came upon Elijah, and asked the great prophet when the Messiah would at last come. “Go and ask Him yourself,” Elijah replied. Astonished, the rabbi then asked where the Messiah was to be found.

“Sitting at the gates of the city, among the poor and covered with wounds,” Elijah replied.

Sure enough, Rabbi Yoshua found the Messiah sitting among the poor at the gates of the city. After some hesitation, the rabbi inquired respectfully, “When is the Master coming?” “Today,” the Messiah responded.

Disappointed, Rabbi Yoshua returned to Elijah, who asked why he appeared so dejected. “The Messiah deceived me,” responded the rabbi, “for He said, ‘Today I am coming’ and He has not come.” Elijah gently corrected the rabbi, “This is what He told you:  today if you would listen to His voice.”

Today He stands at the gate to our hearts. Today He knocks and seeks entry. Today we are invited to join in His supper. Today we are called to follow in His footsteps.

“Today, if you will hear His voice:  ‘Do not harden your hearts…’” (Ps. 95: 7-8).

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse http://www.avoicereclaimed.com